The Luckyday Foundation announced on August 2, 2001, that it would fund a record number of 400 scholarships annually at Southern Miss. The gift provides more than $1,600,000 annually to The University of Southern Mississippi, the largest gift in school history. Since the initial gift, the Luckyday Foundation has provided $33 million in gifts and commitments to the USM Foundation. The gift from The
Luckyday Foundation, founded by the late Frank R. Day of Jackson, Mississippi, funds scholarships for Mississippi residents entering their first year at Southern Miss who demonstrate leadership skills, excel academically, serve their community, and seek to be a part of moving their community forward. Luckyday Scholars are provided extra support and encouragement to help assure their academic success through a required Luckyday Seminar their freshman year, a freshman-year mentoring program, learning strategies and job seeking trainings, designated housing assignments to encourage a living/learning community, community service requirements, and many other opportunities. Each year the Luckyday Program welcomes about 80 freshmen scholars to campus. There are currently about 320 Luckyday Scholars in the program, freshmen through seniors. The Luckyday Scholars Program provides $6,000per year. The scholarship is renewable for three years after the students' freshman year, provided they continue to meet eligibility criteria. Freshmen and sophomores are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or greater, juniors and seniors a 2.75.
